The mining industry is housed within the broader Zacks Basic Materials sector. The Q4 earnings picture for this sector looks glum. Basic Materials is among the Zacks sectors that are expected to see the biggest decline in earnings in the fourth quarter. Overall earnings for the space are projected to fall 25.7% on 7.7% lower revenues, per the latest Earnings Trends report. Mining companies’ fourth-quarter results are expected to reflect the benefits of higher prices and efforts to boost operating efficiency ...